Shear-Out Capacity of Bolted Connections in Cold-Reduced Steel Sheets

Bolted connections are one of the important connection methods and are widely used in civil engineering construction because of their reliability and easy installation. Cold formed steel is also widely used for its high strength, fast forming and accurate dimensions. Therefore, study of the shear-out capacity of cold-rolled steel plate has great significance in providing guidance for engineering practice and improving structural safety and economy. This thesis examines the accuracy of design equations specified in the North American, European and Australian/New Zealand standards for determining the shear-out capacity of bolted connections in cold-reduced steel sheets. In the study 71 single-bolted specimens were tested with varying end distances, edge distances, sheet thickness, bolt (hole) diameters, steel grades and steel plate cutting methods, in which 60 of them failed by shear-out. The ratios of end distance to bolt diameter ranged from 1.25 to 3.0. Load-displacement graphs were obtained and the deformation and fracture location of the steel plate were recorded, these provided data for the formulation of an equation of the ultimate shear-out capacity of a bolted connection in cold-reduced steel sheet.